296 



Pear) between every two coffee plants, and a tree of Cassia siamea 

 every thirty feet. The coffee plants ara put out 9 feet apart, it being 

 intended to manure, water, and cultivate as highly as possible. 72 

 Alligator Pears, 30 Breadnut Brosimium alicastrum), and 9 plants of 

 Cassia have been used for shading purposes. 



Coffea stenophylla planted at th* same time as the Coffea LibeHca has 

 not grown anything like as well, but I propose to put a few plants 

 lower down the economic grounds where the soil is better. 



Several varieties of Coffee seeds received from Mr. Thomas Christy 

 have germinated and are now almost ready to plant out. 



Sugar Canes. — The young canes have all been carefully attended to 

 and have made very fine growths. Increased interest is taken in the 

 numerous varieties, and there is a large demand for tops. 3,360 tops 

 have been distributed and some of the older varieties distributed from 

 the Gardens are well spoken of. The trials of canes in different parts 

 of the Island show that canes can be obtained to suit almost any dis- 

 trict ; the Salangore is highly spoken of by the people of the Brandon 

 Hill district ; Caladonian Queen is preferred by Colonel Kitchener for 

 growth in Westmoreland ; Lahina by Mr. Mitchell of Amity Hall, 

 Yere ; Po-a-ole is thought by Mr. Harry Cork of Burlington to be the 

 best cane for his district in Portland, — it is largely grown at Worthy 

 Park, and is spoken of by Mr. Scarlet as growing well and making a 

 fine grade of sugar. 



During the coming year it is intended to put out a duplicate lot of 

 plant canes; and next year we shall be in a position to test the juice 

 from first ratoons ; and from plant canes. 



Grape Vines. — Nearly the whole of the plants started to grow fairly 

 well, but were attacked by swarms of May Bugs, which not only ate off 

 the young leaves and tender shoots of the vines which had made growth 

 at the time of the attack but also ate the undeveloped buds of the vines 

 which had not started to grow, killing some of the vines entirely. Some 

 of the vines however put out good strong growth with good bunches 

 of fruit, these latter had to be removed as it was found that the ripening 

 of them would exhaust the vines. The Madeira vines from Dr Grab- 

 ham have not grown well. During this year all the vines which made 

 good growths last year will be allowed to fruit. 



Pines. — Experiments in planting and manuring are being carried 

 out, and also on various types of suckers. 



Bananas. — The suckers of Musa sapientum var. rubrum, have grown 

 very vigorously. Musa Banjoo planted alongside has also grown well 

 and is now shooting. Musa Martaban and Gundy Banana have not as 

 yet shown signs of fruiting A further plantation of 10 rows of the 

 Common Banana has been made, 15 plants in each row, for the purpose 

 of testing various manures, the land has been dug up properly to a depth 

 of 15 or 16 inches, freed from stumps and stones, and the plants are 

 being kept well watered. 



Colocynth. — Six plants of this were received from the Hill Gardens 

 during the year of which two died. Four plants yielded half a bushel 

 of fruit, from these a quantity of plants has been raised which will be 

 planted on ground prepared in the same way as for the Bananas and 

 the produce will be prepared for market. This is the first time the 

 land has been dug up, and the thorough preparation of it is very la- 



